Hebrews 2:8 Meaning and Explanation
“Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God has subjected all things to man, leaving nothing outside that rule -- yet at present we do not see that dominion fulfilled.
What Does Hebrews 2:8 Mean?
The psalm's sweep is total: "all things" placed under man's feet, with nothing left out. The writer presses the word "all," insisting that God's purpose holds back nothing from this dominion. The intended scope is the whole created order.
Then comes an honest admission: "now we see not yet all things put under him." The promised rule is not visibly fulfilled in our experience -- creation still groans, and humanity does not reign as it was meant to. This tension between God's promise and present reality is exactly what the next verse resolves, lifting our eyes from what we do not yet see to the One we do see: Jesus.
Hebrews 2:8 in the Original Language
hupotasso (ὑποτάσσω), 'subjection' -- to place under, to set in order beneath an authority.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hebrews 2:8
What does Hebrews 2:8 mean?
God has subjected all things to man, leaving nothing outside that rule -- yet at present we do not see that dominion fulfilled.